📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 15 Rated Districts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Madison School District | Madison | 10/10 Excellent | 92nd |
| #2 | Guilford School District | Guilford | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #3 | Regional School District 05 | Woodbridge | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #4 | Bethany School District | Bethany | 9/10 Excellent | 83rd |
| #5 | Orange School District | Orange | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #6 | North Haven School District | North Haven | 7/10 Good | 61st |
| #7 | North Branford School District | Northford | 6/10 Average | 53rd |
| #8 | Milford School District | Milford | 5/10 Average | 45th |
| #9 | Branford School District | Branford | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #10 | Wallingford School District | Wallingford | 4/10 Below Average | 30th |
| #11 | Hamden School District | Hamden | 3/10 Below Average | 23rd |
| #12 | Meriden School District | Meriden | 2/10 Poor | 16th |
| #13 | East Haven School District | East Haven | 2/10 Poor | 14th |
| #14 | West Haven School District | West Haven | 2/10 Poor | 11th |
| #15 | New Haven School District | New Haven | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
Best School Districts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut (2026)
This page lists the 15 public school districts headquartered in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using EDFacts 2021–22 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Connecticut, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in South Central Connecticut Planning Region may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut? ▼
Among the 15 rated districts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, the highest-rated is Madison School District (Madison), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 92nd percentile of Connecticut districts on EDFacts 2021–22 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (EDFacts 2021–22), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Connecticut and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.